Grant: College and Community Innovation Program

Genetics has transformed understanding of living organisms and enabled the advent of new scientific tools and technologies. In recent decades, these tools and technologies have been integrated into human medicine and enabled a precision approach to understanding disease and advancing treatments. Genetics has also transformed large-scale agriculture, accelerating product development and sustainability. However, access to genetics expertise and infrastructure remains limited for most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture. KPU has long standing partnerships with BC's agricultural sector. KPU advances sustainable agricultural production through its research institutes and laboratories to meet the needs of private, public, non-profit, and Indigenous partners. Recently, KPU developed new infrastructure for high quality genomic and metabolomic research through its Applied Genomics Centre (AGC). The Centre aims to make genetics expertise and tools more accessible to SMEs in agriculture to support their innovation needs. Since opening in January 2019, the AGC has engaged in five successful applied research projects with eight industry partners, and trained several undergraduate students. These projects have been supported by $254,000 in cash from public funders, private organizations, industry associations, and local SMEs. KPU has already invested $414,000 toward personnel salaries and research supplies, and $1.5M toward a new research laboratory for the AGC. The local demand for the Centre's genomic and metabolomic solutions has exceeded initial expectations. Support from NSERC will ensure we meet this rapidly growing demand by building capacity at KPU. Consistent dialogue with industry partners will ensure that the Centre's applied research fulfils current and future industry needs, while expanding relevant experiential learning opportunities for students at KPU.